Sign adjuster or seat-indicating device



June 17, 1930. V v s 1,765,250

, SIGN ADJUSTER OR SEAT INDICATING DEVICE Filed March 15, 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet l Tran/)5 ATTORNEY F. .A. TRAVIS June 17, 71930.

' SIGN ADJUSTER 0R sE'AT' INDICATING DEVICE e Sheets-Sheet ETravi'fi Filc ad March 13,1929

ATTORNEY SIGN ADJUSTER OR sm'r I-NDICA'IING DEVICE v e Sheets-Sheet Filed March 13, 1929 Travj/s V INVENTOR ATTORNEY F. A. TRAVIS June 17, 1930.

SIGN ADJUSTER OR SEAT INDICATING DEVICE 6 Sheets-Sheet Filed March 13, 1929 17.5. Travis INVENTOR ATTORNEY F, A. TRAVIS June 17, 1930.

SIGN ADJUSTER 0R SEAT INDICATING DEVICE Filed March 13', 1929 3 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR AK m8 B 9 l R g E bb ATTORNEY F. A. TRAVIS June 17, 1930.

SIGN ADJUSTER 0R SEAT I NDICATING' DEVICE Filed March 13, 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet huh Tra'uj/s A'I'I'OR HEY g 15 reverse the Patented June 17, 1930 mane FRANCIS A. TRAVIS, or marines. TEXAS SIGN ADJUSTER OB SEAT-INDICATING DEVICE Application filed l liarehl s; 1829. Serial No. 346,615.;

This invention relates to signal devices M member adapted for use in con unction with primarily adapted for use. within buses street cars, interurbans, trains, and in fact all types of common carriers to indicate the white and colored seats by sections.

I An object of the invention contemplates a signal element adapted to indicate the white I and colored seats by sections. 7

Another object ofthe invention contemplates an operating mechanism adapted to shift the signal element.

An additional object of the invention consists of a reverse mechanism adapted for use in conjunction with the signal element to position of the signal element rather than turn the carrier completely around; V

More specifically stated the operating --inechanism is provided with a handle memher toretain a signal element'in a desired position against unauthorized use.

With the above and otherobjects in view,

the invention. further consists of the following novelfeatures and details of construction, to be'hereinafter more fully described, accompanying drawings illustrated in the and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings I ,Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view 3 30,taken through a street car or other'common carrier illustrating the applicat on of the in vention. I

F gure-2 is a' horizontal sect onal view takenthrough the carrier and operating mechanism and illustrating the arrangement of the signalelement therein. Figure Elisa topv plan view of the invention.. H p p Figured is a side elevation thereof. 1 .0 Y Figure 5 is. a horizontal sectional view taken through the reverse mechanismsv Figurefi is a view similar toFigure biwith the reverse mechanismv in use.

Figure? is an enlarged detail; sectional 4.5. view taken throughthe reverse mechanism while in use.

Figure v8 isv a view similar to Figure 7 with 'thereverse mechanism released.

Figure 9.is a sectional view taken on line no 99;of Figureh.

.illustrat FigurelO is a perspective view of a shift a reverse mechanismrf Figure 11 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken througha streetmar illustrating the application .of .a-modified per se.

Figure' ld is a detailseotional view taken througl'rthe operating mechanism of the modification.

Figure 15 1s a sectional 15.15 of Figure 14.: v v

Figure 16 is a longitudinal sectional view taken throng Figure 17 is a view similar to Figure 16 view taken on line iew for the reversing means.-

Referring to the drawings in detail where 'f in like characters ofreference, denotef'corresponding parts, the reference character. 10" indicates a street caror other common carrier. i

I plate .11 adapted to be' supported withint-he street cain the manner asbestillustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings. L V Tubular members 12, carried upon plate ing the operating-position of the re n the signal. reversing means. i

50 The invention contemplates asuppo 'ting members 13 supported. upon the supporting plate 11,.are arranged in spaced parallelism upon the plate members 13, in'the manner; illustrated in Figure. 3 ofthe drawings. 7

an endless belt or chain', such as indicated at 14, extended within the bores of thetubular members 12,- are at the outermost looped ends thereof withpul-r ley or sprocket wheels l5 jou'rnaled, as at 16,

upon the supporting plate 11. pulley orll- 3 sprocket wheel 1S arranged at both ends of adapted for connection the supporting plate .lhwlierebythe fendend'ofthe streetcar. v v

, One of the tubular members .12 is provided;

lessbelt or, chain may be actuated from either with an elongated slotted port-ion 17 through which a shaft member 18 is projected from a member 19 slidably mounted within the particular tubular member and having connection at its ends with the adjacent ends of the belt or chain 14. eccentrically mounted upon the pulley or sprocket wheels 15, are adapted to impart rotation thereof to shift the member 19 within the particular tubular member 12.

The reverse mechanism contemplates a housing 21 adapted to accommodate the outermost end of the shaft, 18. A locking element 22, carried upon the outermost end of the shaft 18, is provided with a V-haped cut-out portion 23 in the extremity thereof, the purpose of which will be presently aparent. A compression spring 24, carried within the housing 21, is adapted to normally retain the shaft 18 in'the position shown in Figure f the drawings.

A frame member 25, ca 21,- is provided with a rotatably mounted shaft 26 having aispur gear 27 upon one end and a pinion gear 28 upon the other. A shaft 29, horizontally disposed and journaled within the housing 21 and frame 25, is provided with a beveled gear 30 adjacent'one end adapted for meshing engagement with the p1n1on 28. rk placard or other srgnal element, such as indicated at 31, is mounted upon the opposite end of the shaft 29. Lugs 32, fixed to and laterally disposed upon that portion of the shaft 29 within the housing 21, are adapted for selective registration within the cut-out portion 23 in the locking element The tubular member, having the slotted portion 17, is provided with rackbar portions v33 upon the upper side thereofadjzicent the ends of the slot therein. 7 I carried upon the ing 21, is adapted L tion'ed tubular member until the reversing ap- A roller member 34, innermost end of the housto ride uponethe aforemenparatus nears the rack bar portions 33. At suchjuncture the inclined faces 35 of swingably mounted shift members 36 are engaged and which will cause the'compression spring 24 to be compressed and the spur gear 27 accordingly shifted for with the adjacent rack bar portion 33. The rack bar portions and shift members are located adjacent the ends of the cutout portion 17. Contacting engagement of the spur gear 27 and the rack bar portions 33 will accordingly rotate the shafts 26 and 29 respectively toreverse the position of the placard or signal element 31;

The reversed mechanism may then be shift ed within the street car to subdivide the seating compartmentsand thesections for white 7 and colored passengers. Manifestly the lock- 1I1g mechanism is calledinto use upon the reversal of the signal or placard to hold and r sustainthe same in a deslredposition;

Handle members 20,

rri'ed by the housing is formed upon the carried by and depending meshing engagement axles are The outermost ends of the shift members 36 j are beveled, as at 37, whereby the housing 21, when retracted, will engage the same and elevate the shift member instead of reversing the position of the signal or placard. V

A sleeve 38, carried'upon the plates 13, is

adapted to accommodate compression springs '39 adapted for contacting engagement with the adjacent ends of telescopically associated rod members 40 having pockets or bores within the outermost ends thereof to accommodate the adjacent teeth of the sprocket wheels 15 whereby accidental displacement or unauthorized use of the operating mechanism will be prevented when said rod members 40 are shifted by the pins 41 within the bayonet slots 42 in the sleeve 38.

In the'form and modification of my invention illustrated in Figures in sheets 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings, the idea is to dispose or otherwise suspend the sign 11 to 19 inclusive,

plate in the center of the car preferably above 7 the aisle and in carrying out this construction, I provide bracket members 43 secured to the inner side of the top of the common carrier and to one side of the longitudinal center thereof. 7 7

Supporting plates 44, suspended from arms 45 depending from the brackets 43, support a tubular member 46 and a channel member 47 therebetween. A block 48, shaped in conformity with the bore of the channel member 47, is mounted for oscillatory sliding move ment therein. projecting from the block or slide 48, is pro- An arm 49, carried by and jected through an elongated slot 50 in one side of the channel member 47. A ring 51 outermost projecting portion of the arm 49, the purpose of which will be presently apparent. Supporting arms 52,

from the under side of the canopies projecting from the ends of the vehicle body, carry posed disk members 53'upon projecting ends thereof Sleeves 54, carried by and projecting centrally of thedisks 53 horizontally dis-,

the lowermost and having the bores thereof in'communication with central openings therein,

adapted to accommodate axles 55; Said U-shaped brackets 57 supported between the furthermore adapted to carry pulley wheels 56 within the enclosures defined by are i opposed bracket arms 52 in the manner shown in Figures connecting element, suchas indicated at 58, wound about the pulley wheels 56 and passed through the tubular rnei ber 46 and channel -member 47, is adapted for connection at its ends with spring elements 59 ofthe retrac tile type havlng connectionat their opposite ends' with ears 60 upon the opposed ends of the block or slide member 48, substantially 'as illustrated in Figure13 of the drawings.

A barrel or housing member 61, preferably of cylindrical formation, carried by'the ring 11 and 14. A belt, cable, or other 51 of the shank or arm 49 fortheslide or block member 48, houses a sleeve member 62 being closed at the ends thereof by walls 63 and 64 respectively.

' A shaft 65, extended axiallyof the longicollar 67 carried Within one end of the housing61, is adapted to normally retain the sleeve 62 in the Figure 16 position. The shaft65 isin addition provided with a reduced portion 68 adapted for disposition within a slotted portion 69 in the end Wall 641- of the sleeve member 62 whereby simultaneous sliding action of the shaft and sleeve within the housing61 will be facilitated. A closure cap 70, carried upon the opposite end of the housing 61, is centrally apertured to permit projection of the adjacent end of the shaft 65 and which will prevent excess sliding movement of the sleeve 62therein.

shaft passing through the collar 67, is provided with multiple cam faces 72 receivable within pockets or seats 73 in the adjacent side of the collar 67. Fins of the configuration shown, as at 74, and which form the side walls of the seat 73 in the outer portion of the collar 67 retains the cams 72 within their respective seats. The spur gear 75,carried by and horizontally disposed upon the opposite projecting end of the shaft 65', is adapted for members 78 and disposed in the path of movement thereof but as evidenced from the illustration in Figure 16 of the drawings, the shaft 65 must be lowered 'in order to effect such engagement to alter the position of the placard 79 from the position shown. The action taking place in the lower and turning movement of the shaft 65 in the reversal of the placard 79 is manifest from an inspection in Figure 17 bearingmember 81 included upon the inner within the adjacent portion of the 's1eeve62 througha slotted portion 82 therein, is so" disposed as to permit passage of the shaft :65 therethrough.

An arm 83, carried by and extendedfrom that portion of the ring'8O in ,oppositely'disposed relation with respect tothe. bearing 81" and through registering slots 84 and85 re-. spectively in the housing andsleeve, is adapt pose of which will be line of openings 102 the, tubular member? 46 47'. The block orslide side wall of the housing 61 and extended gwill. engage same ed for selective contacting engagement with adjacent wall of the chan- I upper side edges and long and short obliquely disposed ends and 91 respectively. the purpresently apparent. flubs 92, carried upon the lowermost projecting ends of the axles 55,,also provid'eat portions 93 for the forked ends 94 0f taching a sleeve member 95.- A locking lever 96, pivotally mounted, as at 97, upon the sleeve 95, terminates to provide an offset extremity v98 projecting over one side of the adjacent hub...

92 to retain the forked extremity 94 upon the attaching portions 93 therefor. A springjelement 99 interposed between the adjacent sides of the'locking lever 96 andv sleeve member normally retains said lever in the Figure 14,1

position. V

A shank 100, mounted upon the pivot 97 for rocking movement within the bore of the sleeve 95, carries a rightangularlydisposed A collar 71, carried upon that end of the posite end of the shank 100 and extended;

through .a slot 104 adjacent the outermost end ofthe sleeve 95, carries a handle member 105 eXte-riorly thereof. A roller member 106, carried upon the outer side of the sleeve member' 95 in spaced relation thereto, is adapted selective contacting engagement with rack bar portions 7 6 and 7-? carried by bracket to engage the opposite sides of the disks 53 diametrically opposed to that of the stud :101.

fter the handle construction, as shown in Figure 14 of the drawings, hasbeen applied in the manner mentioned will disengage the stud 101 therefor fromthe particular openingiin the circumferential Successive revolutions of the handle andthe p 7 I engaged axle 54 will cause the cable,-belt ,'link A trigger, comprising a'ring' 80 plvotally mounted for swinging movement within a.

age or other conne ctori 58, to move through and channel member 48, incident cific connection with the connector 58 as able distance and when approaching the adin the .foregoing in the adjacent disl+: -5,3.-,,;

jacent shift member. 86 from the longer obliquely disposed end 90 thereof, the airm83 andslide against the slop-1;

- ing outer surface 89 therefor whereby the spur gear 75 upon the uppermost end s will be engaged of movement thereof.

in the same position during transit until the versing the position sleeve 62 will be shifted downwardly within the housing 61 to occupy the Figure 17 position incident to the connection of the arm 83 with the bottom wall of the. slot 85 therein. The lowering action of the sleeve 62 is simultaneous with that of the shaft 65 wherebythe thereof with the adjacent rack bar bortion 77. Further shifting movement of the lock or slide 18 will cause the shaft 65 to rotate a half turn whereby the placard 79 will be reversed. The cams 72 of the collar 71 will ride upon the fins 74 of the collar67 and again drop within the seats 7 3 of the collar 67 whereby the placard 7 9 will be disposed horizontally and Movement of the block or slide 18 in an opposite direction through the channel member t? will cause the arm 83 to engage the shorter. obliquely disposed end 91 of the adjacent shift member 86 and ride upwardly thereon and against the upper side edge thereof. The gear 7 5 will then occupy the Figure 16 position free of contacting. engagement with the adjacent rack bar portion located in the path The sign will remain arm 83 engages the longer obliquely disposed end of the opposed shift member 86.

It is to be noted that common carriers equipped with either of my forms of invention will obviate the usual necessity of reof the carrier, inasmuch as the signal element may be more easily reversed.

The invention is susceptible of, various changes in its form, proportions and minor details of construction, and the right is herein reserved to make such changes as properly fall within the scope of the appended claims. Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. A signal comprising asupporting apparatus, conduits carried thereby, elements carried adjacent the ends of the apparatus,an endless connector trained over the V elements arranged rotatable elements and extended within the conduits, a carriage slidably mounted within the conduits having connection with the endless connector, a reverse mechanism carried bythe carriage, a signal element operable in conjunction wlth the reverse mechanism, a

gear .member carried by the reverse mechanism, rack bar portions in line wlth the gear, shift members located n the path of move.-

ment of the carriageto shift thelatter to cf feet meshing engagement of the gear and rack barportions and reversing of the signal element.

" 2 A signal comprising asupporting apparatus, conduits carried thereby, rotatable conduits upon the supporting apparatus, an

endless connector trained over the'rotatable above the aisle inthe vehicle.

rotatable adjacent the ends of the elements and extended within the conduits I nector for simultaneous reciprocatory move;

ment therein, rack bar portions arranged at intervals upon the aforementioned conduit, a signal element carried by the carriage, a gear member connected for. simultaneous motion with the signal element, and shift members arranged upon the conduit to dispose the gear member in line with the rack bar portions and to reverse the position-of the signal element upon the occasion of the traveling meshing'engagement thereof. j

In. testimony whereof I afliX my signature.

; FaANors A. raAv s. 

